BARN FIND HONDA ATC 185S - Fresh out of the hangar, but will it run???

So, it comes in handy when people know you as the local three wheeler guy... sometimes the machines find you... and that's what happened here.
A former teacher from my childhood, who taught at the same time period as my mother, had recently got ahold of my mother and let her know that her late husband had a three wheeler and she has finally gotten to the point where she's trying to thin out some of the many, many things he had collected over the years. We didn't know what the machine was at first, but before my trip to visit her, she mentioned that it was a 185S, but wasn't sure on the year or exact condition.
So after about a month, I was able to go and check it out and it turned out to be a 1983 and it was in pretty nice shape!! Not perfect, but way better than most! I go through it in this video and see if we can get it running.
#honda #atv #fresh

[@lothre]

Other than Big Reds and US90s, I have owned every Honda ATC of various conditions, but one thing I have personally noticed, is that the 185s/200s ATCs are the single most unkillable of them all. I pulled a 185s out of a Southern CA field years ago that had been abandoned for at least 20 years and was buried 3-5 inches into the ground. When I pulled it free, there were portions of the lower frame that had literally disintegrated The foot-pegs stayed in the ground when the bike was pulled free.. I still managed to get it to start up and run, and I swear to God that motor not only ran well, but shifted smoothly and blew zero smoke after it had run for about 15-20 minutes. Still have the motor from that trike in another frame. Honda REALLY put their love into the design of that motor platform. Enjoyed the video. Great to see another Honda ATC put back into service, instead of chopped up on ebay and gone forever!

[@223cycles2]

Nailed it. I was yelling at the TV as if you could hear me “sticking valve!!” 😅

[@jhenry7406]

My love affair with three wheelers started with this bike, cousins had one,so at the age of 13 I talked my parents into buying a 200x Honda,brand new from dealer,was 1981,I was stoked,and most popular in the neighborhood,as long as I had the trike out, hahaha,rode it till I got my driver's license,left home, parents sold it Anyhow huge gap then I purchased a basket. Case 350x,from local biker club,was being used as a urinal behind clubhouse,piss on the rice bike,it was nasty, yuck. Built it into a coal road strip mine eater,rode Pennsylvania frequently. was set up for cross country,would eat 2stroke 250 dirt bikes all day,pissed off many tagalongs with new rides.great stuff miss that bike,sold it to by a house. anyhow great show love what your doing!

[@ThisOldTrike]

Thank you very much man! Love that story! I bet that 350X piss bike is still running!!

[@OwenHackman]

Pennsylvania back roads just hit different man

[@tricycleguy2657]

1. That starter fluid may dissolve the "pre oiled" oil on the element. 2. Its been my experience to shoot a little carb cleaner right in the plug hole. (i dont like starter fluid) No debate if or if not it got where it was needed 3. If your not pulling fuel from the carb bowl id recommend no choke and wide open throttle to pull that starter fluid up through... with the choke on it has all the vaccum at the jets not the filter where the go go juice was applied 4. Bennett+recon+strap and get that thing spooling up it'll fire

[@patinabunker5340]

I like step #4 myself!

[@glenmallory9982]

Raced one for a few summers in turf drags. Great little trike. Always wanted to build a replica of the trike I raced someday. 1982 model 185S.

[@jessicabornholtz5481]

i love 3 wheelers i have a 3 weeler

[@ThisOldTrike]

Awesome! What kind??

[@OwenHackman]

I have yet to come across a barn find

[@ThisOldTrike]

Stay consistent and you will!

[@haydenisanerd4958]

My first car was a barn find, trust me, they are out there, you just gotta be rural lol.

[@ni_wink84]

That’s funny, just let it sit a little and bam! Kicked right off lol how strange, sure sounds like a good runner, nice find!

[@ThisOldTrike]

Right!?! I figured it must have been fresh oil getting pumped in and around the top end lubed the valves up... one or more were probably sticking. I'm sure some run time is definitely going to help this little fella out!

[@Op1zilla]

Hell yeah, I was going to say check tale pipe for dirt dobber Nest, but ole man takes a wile to come outta that Deep Sleep 👽👍

[@ThisOldTrike]

Yes sir! He wanted to start on his own terms!

[@treasurelife2270]

Barn finds are awesome

[@ThisOldTrike]

Technically a hanger find, but close enough!!

[@AndyCollins80]

Cool story and find man! 👍.

[@gregmonmaney6593]

😍 Finally just tuning back in buddy. God I loveeee the 1983 185s in particular as you know it was the first adult size machine in our family in 83 when my Dad bought himself one new after watching me on my 82 ATC70 he spoiled me with for finishing kindergarten 😂. Annnnd...I love love love the 83 ATC185s I acquired from you sir. Very very grateful you were willing to sell that one and I was the very lucky guy to be able to buy it. That's a machine I will never sell. It's the perfect putting around machine for a guy of my size and statute. Love your channel and soo excited to see your part 2 of this machine. I know it's going to look nearly new. Thank you for your sharing your collection with us all and your knowledge. I've seriously learned a lot. 🙏

[@ThisOldTrike]

I appreciate that brother!! I've got the rear tires off the rims... the Scorpions I'm going to put on them are in house. Just need to clean up the rims a bit before I mount the tires, then I'll get everything detailed and call it done!

[@jasonsherwood4842]

I still have the 83 atc 70 that I got when it was new. My sister and I rode it alot. All my kids have ridden it. Love the trikes have had several others over the last 40 years. Just put together my 200s basket case.

[@bradwoodward2638]

I’ve been looking for a clean 83 185s, my father bought one new. I’d love to buy this one!

[@johnmcnamara4880]

awesome trike. i got rid of quite a few trikes but for some reason i kept my 2 185s trikes.

[@andrewwoodward6560]

Very cool find, and very interesting how it finally came around. I like the 185’s , they were the early racers. 👍😎

[@jmcpowersports3839]

Great video! I like that ATC!

[@tricycleguy2657]

4:29 that's what my 81 R tires looked like... except 2 pcs wheels easy seating

[@user-gk7lo7cc4s]

That is awesome it started

[@mikepalmgren8185]

100% it was a stuck valve I have seen it many times on the 185-200 cc engines . it even happened to my trusty 200m a few years back. That machine always ran like a top I let it sit for 6 months out in my covered storage area and it would not fire at all i pulled the valve caps and sure enough one of the rockers was loose as a goose. moisture creeps into to an open valve and more than likely them stem got a bit rusty and locked it up once you run it and put some time on it pull the valve caps and check your clearance. I bet that noisy valve train is just them not fully seated yet

[@davidfisher69]

Happy birthday 🎉. I hope you keep this one just from back story on it.

[@Krankie_V]

I just got an '82 185s out of the weeds after sitting for about 10 years. Tank totally rusted through. I cleaned up the pull start and installed a new rope, slapped on an old china carb from the parts bin, and it fired right up! I was impressed. That's Honda quality! Say, do you know if that rack will fit a 200S? The 1982 185s parts bike I picked up has a rear rack like that , and I want one on my 84 200s.

[@captainhowdy1116]

Nice find! ATC supremacy

[@Crxpert1]

Awesome video and beautiful machine! Tricycle Guy is one of the Goats when it comes to these old Hondas. I was stumped with the whole fuel, spark, compression with no pop? But a valve stuck open would make total sense.

[@cj7fun579]

What a great find, Looks really good for as old as it is. I'm going to say that the gas that was in it was Av gas, because if it was anything else, it would have already broken down to syrupy tarnish as long as it sat. I think Tri cycle guy is right about one of the valves sticking open, or maybe the decompression was sticking the valve open just enough to keep from getting full compression to fire.

[@ThisOldTrike]

Yup, I was pretty amazed by the gas. It was very stable for as old as it must have been. I think the fresh oil pumping around the motor with what movement it must have been getting from being pulled on... over the course of the couple weeks it sat there, it freed it up!

[@andrewraden4011]

I literally just picked up an 83 185s very unmolested last weekend. Love the vids.

[@vroomvroomfacts]

Hey it’s me agin lol but I still don’t have atc 70 but I hope to have one soon and glad you are doing well

[@ThisOldTrike]

I'm catching up on some old comments. Can't wait to see what you end up with man!

[@Coyote-pj1iu]

Had that to happen to a 1988 fourtrax 300 my cousin had that Sat up for awhile , did the say as you did & nothing , let it sit over night & 2nd kick bam , it came to life 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sethstone2881]

I've got one! Pond find found sitting next to a pond a 85 200x crazy!

[@Nighthawk1966]

Nice job !!

[@ThisOldTrike]

Thank you sir!!

[@cainbeeping8480]

Here been working on my 200es

[@ThisOldTrike]

Yes!! Hope it's going well brother!

[@Squizzle-56]

Add about a cup of Rislone oil additive to the crankcase, that should free up the ticking.

[@Ionz2]

That is a nice trike

[@ThisOldTrike]

Thanks brother!

[@Jessecottner]

I need to find more barns.

[@ThisOldTrike]

I recommend it!

[@patinabunker5340]

Very nice preston, just picked one up three weeks ago too! You ought to make this into a series! Preston's barn finds! Lol great video. Mine was kind of rare it had the racks with speedometer. I wonder if it had aviation gas in it? Its way better fuel. Has lead in it like racing fuel.

[@cainbeeping8480]

Congrats on the pick up.

[@ThisOldTrike]

Thank you sir!

[@sethstone2881]

I've got another one found 2 85 250 sx's in a barn in California.

[@TickenLifters]

Thanks iv had this exact issue with a atc200 once In awile it just wont start no matter what unless you bump start it like pull it behind another wheeler and pop the clutch couldn’t figure why it would do that

[@ThisOldTrike]

Yeah, it's sounding like it's kinda common! I'm glad this happened on the video so that people can diagnose similar problems!

[@tearzacurtis3116]

I have a question, ive never came across thiss but im working on an 83 atc200e idles perfect and pulls hard when you give it alot of throttle but if youre just trying to cruise at the same speed (any speed just trying to hold any certain speed) itll spit and sputter pretty harsh

[@tearzacurtis3116]

The neighbor has nine different models and this one stumped me I can't figure it out

[@badfrog251]

1985 110 owner here having a time trying to get a seat pan and seat for it. Let me know if you have any idea where I can find one.

[@jessicabornholtz5481]

and a 4 weeler

[@ThisOldTrike]

Awesome too!!

[@NEWFIEBULLET-1]

How’s it going today

[@johnbizzle4008]

I was wondering do u sell any of your 3 wheelers? I'm looking for a 1985 200s........

[@ThisOldTrike]

I sell machines on occasion. Unfortunately I don't have an 85 200S that I'd like to sell.

[@kollinspencer847]

i thought the 185s didnt come with front shocks

[@jessicabornholtz5481]

honda 3 weeler and 4 weeler ples read

[@ThisOldTrike]

I'm reading! Thank you for watching!!

[@tigerwatts2537]

No valve is sticking

[@tomandemmy21]

Booger patches

[@ThisOldTrike]

They're the best!! lol

[@tricycleguy2657]

Hahahahhahahahahahahh thanks

[@tricycleguy2657]

Sometimes they act stupid with the airbox lid off.....not enough vaccum to pull fuel through the carb

[@jasonliskey4980]

It should start with it off usually if carb is clean. Need to take filter off when spraying starting fluid will get more in it.

[@jasonliskey4980]

Did you ever clean the carb.